The UN Global Compact

Intrepid is a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) – a framework used to align a company’s operations and strategies with universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption.

In order for sustainability to remain embedded in our operations, we take a holistic view of our business and its various points of impact. This means looking beyond our balance sheet to the areas intrinsically linked to our business: the environment, society, economy and governance/ethics. We want to ensure that we're taking responsibility for our impact in these areas and contributing to, rather than diminishing, their health and value.

UNGC progress reports

Our commitment to remain an accountable and transparent signatory to the UNGC involves submitting a 'Communications on Progress' report every year. This report outlines our progress in each of the sustainability areas we have committed to tackling. You can read these reports via the following links:

Intrepid Travel and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals

Launched by the UN in 2015, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outline a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice, strengthen universal peace, and fix climate change. They are aimed at all countries and stakeholders, asking them to act in a collaborative partnership to implement this plan.

As a global leader in sustainability within the travel industry, Intrepid has identified nine of 17 SDGs that we can contribute most to as a tourism business. By focusing on these, we’re ensuring a strong commitment to the global agenda and to being a company with a purpose beyond profit. To simplify things, we’ve categorised them under five themes known as the ‘5 P’s’: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnerships.

Intrepid’s 9 Sustainable Development Goals

People: 01 No Poverty

Sustainable tourism can be linked with national poverty reduction goals, such as promoting entrepreneurship and small businesses, and empowering young people, women and ethnic minorities.

People: 05. Gender equality

Tourism can empower women in many ways, but particularly through the provision of jobs and income generating opportunities in small and larger-scale tourism and hospitality-related enterprises.

Planet: 11. Sustainable cities and communities

A city that is not good for its citizens is not good for tourists. Sustainable tourism has the potential to advance urban infrastructure and universal accessibility, promote regeneration of areas in decay and preserve cultural and natural heritage – all assets upon which tourism depends.

Planet: 12. Responsible consumption and production

A tourism sector that adopts sustainable consumption and production practices can play a significant role in accelerating the global shift towards sustainability.

Planet: 13. Climate action

Tourism contributes to, and is affected by, climate change. By lowering energy consumption and shifting to renewable energy sources, especially in transport and accommodation, tourism can help tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our time.

Prosperity: 8. Decent work and economic growth

Tourism is one of the driving forces of global economic growth and currently accounts for one in every 11 jobs worldwide. With decent work opportunities in the tourism sector, society – particularly youth and women – can benefit from increased skills and professional development.

Prosperity: 10. Reduced inequalities

Tourism can be a powerful tool in reducing inequality if it engages local populations and key stakeholders in its development. It can contribute to urban renewal and rural development, and reduce regional imbalances by giving communities the opportunity to prosper in their place of origin.

Peace: 16. Peace, justice and strong institutions

Tourism is built on the interaction of people from diverse ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds. Billions and billions of them. The industry has a unique potential to foster multicultural and inter-faith tolerance and understanding, laying the foundation for more a peaceful society

Partnerships: 17. Partnerships for the goals

Due to its cross-sectorial nature, tourism can strengthen private/public partnerships and engage multiple stakeholders – international, national, regional and local – to work together to achieve SDG’s and other common goals.